By Justina Auta
As the world commemorates the 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child (IDGC). Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SGAI), an NGO, has advocated for stakeholders’ collective action to protect their rights and empower the girl-child to reach her potential.
Executive Director of SGAI, Mufuliat Fijabi, made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja in commemoration of the 2024 IDGC.
The 2024 theme of the day is “Girl’s Vision for the Future.”
The IDGC is celebrated annually on Oct. 11 to amplify voices and actions that will protect and empower girls all over the world by ensuring their vision for the future is not disrupted.
However, Fijabi highlighted the challenges affecting the girl-child, which she said contributed immensely to malnutrition, sexual and gender-based violence, early and or forced marriage, lack of education and several more.
She stated that “while the challenges girls face continue to increase and vary from one country to another, protecting their vision for the future will gradually ease the challenges.
“This will launch them into a future that advances their human dignity.
“In Nigeria, the collective role of stakeholders is imperative to halting the challenges girls face.
“Nigerian girls have the full potential to bring about change and deserve all support to grow their potential and to attain a future that is not worse than now.”
She urged stakeholders to take immediate action to protect and empower Nigerian girls through the speedy advancement of girls’ education.
The SGAI boss also called for measures to prevent all forms of harmful cultural practices, sexual and gender-based violence, discrimination and the need to support girls’ menstrual hygiene management.
NAN
